Ship-steering apparatus



P. A. JOHNSON.

SHIP STEERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. I918- Patented May 11, 1920.

P5 75/8 A. JUHNSON.

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UNITED srATns PATENT OFFICE.

PETER A. JOHNSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO JOHNSON-FRIES MARINE CONSTRUCTION ('30., OF PORTLAND, OREGON, A CORPORATION OF OREGON.

sHIP-s'rmm'me uram'rus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER A. JOHNSON. a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ship-Steering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference. being had to the accompan ing drawings.

y invention relates to a class of devices used in ships for the manipulation and control of rudders.

The object of my invention is to provide a mechanism by means of which the operator can manipulate and control the movements of a ship rudder with the application of a pneumatic system therefor, and an.

auxiliary hydraulic system in case of failure of the pneumatic system to function. I attain these objects, as well as other advantages, by the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the device as it would be installed in operative position in a ship.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of controller mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the same through the center longitudinally.

A rudder 1 is shown rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 2. A horizontal tiller arm 3 is rigidly secured upon the upper part of the rudder near the side adjacent to the shaft 2, and transversely over-the rudder An operating inclosure 4 is provided. At a desired distance forward from the rudder, cylinders 5-5 are positioned, the same being on the starboard and port sides respectively. The horizontal piston rods 66 are in alinement with the ends of the tiller arm 3 when the rudder is on even keel position. Guide bars 77 are rigidly secured upon the ends of the cylinders in parallel alinement with the piston rods, and extend toward the rudder a desired distance. Cross heads 88 are slidably mounted on the guide bars and are rigidly secured upon the outer ends of the pistons 6-6. Connecting rods 9-9' are pivoted at one end in the cross-heads 8-8 opposite the piston ends therein, by means of pins 10-10. The opposite ends of the rods 9-9 are pivoted in the respective ends of the tiller arm 3 by means of pins 11-11.

An air compressor 12 is arran ed in a suitable location, also a receiver 0 amber 13 is provided, with connecting pipe 14 between it and the compress r.

Within the inclosure 4 a four-way valve controller 16, of common type is suitably placed. The controller is provided with an exhaust pipe 17 in horizontal alinement with the valve parts, also with an operating lever 17. Within the controller or valve shell 16 1s a four way valve illustrated as of a common type adaptable to my device. It consists of a circular plate Valve 16 seated upon the interior lower surface of the shell 16, and having two oppositely disposed, curved, recessed ports 16 and 16 opening downwardly from the valve. The valve stem 16 extends upwardly without the shell 16 and is rigidly secured there to the operating handle 17 The exhaust pipe 17 extends from below into the shell 16 below the valve 16 to desired positions on each side. A short distance forward from the exhaust opening on the starboard side, the shell 16 has openings, first, into the line pipe 18, second, into the receiver pipe 15 and all three openings are arranged along the travel path of the port 16*. At a like distance forward from the exhaust opening on the port side, the shell 16 has openings, first, into the line pipe 21, second into the pipe 15 and all three openings are also arranged along the travel path of the port 16. Check valves may be arranged .in the respective branches of the pipe 15 to allow the passage of air through one branch into the shell 16' and to prevent its escape therefrom in the opposite direction through the opposing branch. From the receiver 13 a pipe 15 extends to and into the controller in horizontal alinement with the valve ports therein. From within the controller and in horizontal alinement with its valve ports a pipe 18 extends to a port 20 rearward of the piston head in the starboard cylinder 5 and has a lateral pipe 19 extending to a port 20' forward of the piston head in the port cylinder 5. A pipe 21 is similarly arranged between the controller and the cylinder ports 23-23 oppositely disposed to the ports 2020. The controller valve mechanism referred to is illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The position in which check valves might be inserted is designated by reference m in the pipe 15, Fig.2. The pipe 15 is provided with a pressure gage 2 1 and the pipes 18 and 21 with respective pressure gages 25-25. An electric tell'tale system of mechanism 26 is provided between the tiller contact arm 27 and the indicator board 28 in the inclosure 4. A generator G is shown in Fig. 1. The object of said system is to indicate to the operator the position of the rudder. An auxiliary hydraulic compressor 29 is lnstalled in a suitable location, with a pipe 30 connecting it with the pipe 15. A valve 31 1s arranged in the pipe 30 to control the discharge of water into the pipe 15 and the system beyond it. A valve 32 is arranged in the pipe 15 rearward of the connection between the pipes 15 and 30 to control the dJscharge of air into the pipe 15 and the system beyond it.

The operation of the device will now be stated. The lever 17', for example, is moved to starboard to adjust the rudder for steering in that direction. It will be seen that compressed air in desired quantity is then admitted through the controller 16 from the pipe 15 into pipe 18 with lateral l9, astern of the pistonhead in cylinder 5 and forward of the piston head in cylinder 5'. At the same time the air in the cylinders on the opposing ends of the piston heads is discharged in desired quantity through the pipe 21 and lateral 22, through the controller and outwardly through its exhaust 17. It is understood, of course, that the valve ports in the controller are arranged in a manner to allow the passage of the air into and out of the cylinders from the pipes and through the controller as coritemplated. When the operation just described is made, it will be seen that the piston in the cylinder 5 draws the tiller arm end forward and the opposing piston moves the other tiller arm end astern, thus moving the rudder to starboard. Upon moving the lever 17 to port a like movement of the rudder is attained through the intervening mechanism which causes the compressed air and exhaust to move in opposite directions.

To state the operation of the four way valve in more detail, let us first assume that the handle 17' is in alinement longitudinally with the vessel, as in Fig. 1, which is the neutral position with equalized pressure in the two line pipes. While thus positioned,

- -:feed pipe 15 is open into the ports 16 and handle to starboard, as previously described,

16,- line pipe 18 into the port 16 and line pipe 21 into port 16. Upon moving the feed pipe 15 is closed to the port 16 and the exhaust pipe 17 is opened therein, which allows air from line pipe 21 to pass therefrom through the exhaust.- At the same time port 16 remains open to feed pipe 15 and line pipe 18, which allows the receiver air pressure to continue in that part of the system. A movement of the handle to port results in reverse positions and reverse movement of air in the related pipes.

It will be further understood that the valve ports are arranged to lap in amanner to cut off the exhaust and permit air. to enter the cylinder pipes as pre-determined for the operation. It will be further observed that the fundamental principle of my device, when operating the same, is to allow only suflicient air to escape from opposing sides of the piston heads to adjust the rudder to a pre-determined position for steering in a desired course, and to equalize the pressure on the exhausting sides with that on the opposing sides coming directly from the receiver, to retain the rudder when thus set to the register. When the necessary amount of air is exhausted, the controller valve laps the exhaust port and shuts off further discharge. At this time, should a loss or leakage occur from any cause to reduce pressure on the exhaust side, the controller is quickly operated to the neutral position indicated in the figure, which admits air on both sides of the piston heads with pressure equalized, and at the same time retains the piston heads in the desired fixed position and the rudder adjusted to the precise course desired. It is only when the exhaust is operated that a change of rudder position results as desired.

The precise position of the rudder is indicated, when the lever is moved or stopped, by the tell-tale system 26. It will be further seen that should the pneumatic system fail from any cause, it may be eliminated by closing the valve 32 and the hydraulic system substituted in operation by opening the valve 31 thereafter. Upon doing this hydraulic pressure is then employed to operate the steering apparatus in the same manner as described for the pneumatic system. A reversion to the pneumatic power is accomplished by means of the valves -31 and 32 in like manner. It will be particularly observed that with either air or water the companion cylinder mechanism provides an extremely prompt and accurate movement of the rudder to a desired position, and retains it in that position when the lever is set for the same. It is also of particular importancethat the piston heads are cushioned upon air, and when the rudder sustains an impact from any external source bearing upon it, the pistons will recede in a resilient manner upon the air cushion, and forthwith return to the pre-determined set position, the pressure on either side of the piston heads being stabilized by compressed air under a desired compression. While a like result cannot be accomplished with water in the same manner as with air, yet for emergency purposes the use of water will allow the mechanism to be 0 erated for the object intended and with a exibility which starboard cylinders havin will accomplish its object. In this manner my device overcomes many difliculties heretofore existing in ship steering apparatus, and provides means for efficient manipulation of the rudder. It also obviates the strain upon the mechanism which might cause it to get out of order or parts to break. It will be further seen that the auxiliary hydraulic system is a further safeguard against accident to the pneumatic system. It is quickly and completely substituted as occasion may require. I consider the air system preferable, as it is more refined and delicate in its operation. It is however necessary, in the operation of ships, to provide every means possible for safety, hence I have arranged the auxiliary hydraulic system as a part of my device.

I claim- 1. In a steering apparatus for vessels, the combination of, a rudder having a transverse tiller arm, with pneumatic steering mechanism, comprising therein port and starboard cylinders having pistons therein disposed forward of and with relation to the respective port and starboard ends of the tiller arm, intervening means to connect saidv pistons with the opposing ends of the tiller arm, a compressed air receiver, a valve having a controlling arm to open and close its ports, said valve having an exhaust port and a desired number of other ports, a pipe extending from the receiver into the valve and positioned in relation to its ports, a two part pipe line system extending from each of said cylinders into the valve and positioned in relation to its ports, the receiver pipe and valve exhaust, said line system being constructed and arranged in a manner whereby compressed air may be admitted in a predetermined quantity from the receiver pipe through the valve into one part of the pipe line system and thence into the forward part of one cylinder and the rear part of the opposing cylinder, and also in the reverse directions to that last described, in a manner to retain the pistons in desired stationary positions, also to allow air to be exhausted from one part of the pipe line system and admitted at the same time through the other in a manner to change the positions of the opposing pistons as desired, all by means of an operation of the valve arm, substantially as described.

2. In a steering apparatus for vessels, the combination of, a rudder havin a transverse tiller arm, with pneumatic steerin mechanism, comprising therein port and pistons therein disposed forward of and with relation to the respective port and starboard ends of the tiller arm, intervening means to connect said pistons with the opposing ends of the tiller arm, a compressed air receiver, a valve having a controlhng arm to open and close its ports, said valve having an exhaust port and a desired number of other ports, a pipe extending from the receiver into the valve and positioned in relation to its ports, a two part pipe line system extending from each of said cylinders into the valve and positioned in relation to its ports, the receiver pipe and valve exhaust, said line system being constructed and arranged in a manner whereby compressed air may be admitted in a pre-determined quantity from the receiver pipe through the valve into one part of the pipe line system and thence into-the forward part of one cylinder and the rear part of the opposing cylinder, and also in the reverse directions to that last described, in a manner to-retain the pistons in desired stationary positions, also to allow air to be exhausted from one part of the pipe line system and admitted at the same time through the other in a manner to change the positions of the opposing pistons as desired, all by means of an operation of the valve arm, also an auxiliary hydraulic mechanism having a connecting pipe leading into the pipe between the receiver and the controller valve, said pipes being provided with means to cut off the air discharge into the receiver pipe and to admit other fluid from the hydraulic mechanism under pressure combination with a rudder, of two separate fluid operated means controlling the rudder, a two-part pipe line system conductin fluid to and from each of the separate flui operated means, and a single valve controlling the flow of fluid in the two-part pipe line system.

4. In a steering apparatus for vessels, the combination with a rudder, of two separate fluid pressure cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, means attached to each piston for controlling the rudder, a two-part pipe line system conducting fluid to and from each of the fluid pressure cylinders and a single valve controlling the flow of fluid in the two-part pipe line system.

PETER A. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

Dnmx SMITH WRIGHT, Manensmra JOHNSON, 

